Officials: Revenge driving Indy's spike in violent crimes

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Indianapolis police are investigating the scene where three people were shot at a funeral on the north side Thursday, July 20, 2017.(Photo: Holly Hays/IndyStar)Buy Photo

Revenge shootings have been fueling much of the violence Indianapolis has seen in the past two years, law enforcement officials say.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police suspect the shootings Thursday that injured alleged gang leader Richard Grundy III and two others at a funeral for a woman slain days earlier could be yet another example.

"Retaliation is the common thread in this," said Capt. Robert Holt, supervisor of IMPD's covert investigations unit.

"We take steps to try to mitigate it. We put an eye on people who are likely to be vulnerable or likely to commit violence."

Grundy, 28, and two women, ages 32 and 62, were shot before 4 p.m. in the 4200 block of Millersville Road after a funeral for 28-year-old Jasmine Moore, who was gunned down July 9 on the west side. Thursday's shooting victims were reported in stable condition.

Court documents allege that Grundy leads a sweeping drug trafficking organization, dubbed the "Grundy Crew," that is responsible for a handful of homicides in Indianapolis in recent years. Grundy himself was once charged with murder, but charges were dropped because of evidence problems. He faces a slew of drug charges.

Indianapolis saw a record 149 criminal homicides in 2016, which was five more than the prior record set in 2015. This year is slightly ahead of last year's pace, according to IMPD. The number of nonfatal shootings is down slightly, with 220 this year compared with 257 at this time last year.

The violence has the attention of the Department of Justice, which last month announced that Indianapolis was among 12 cities that would receive special funding to help fight the problem.

Ryan Mears, chief trial deputy for the Marion County prosecutor's office, said he remains hopeful that the city will get a handle on the violence.

"I'm optimistic that we are going to stem the tide as it relates to homicides," Mears said.

Getting witnesses to testify in these kinds of cases is difficult, Mears said.

Distrust often exists between crime victims and law enforcement, he said. Some witnesses or victims to a crime today may have been suspects or convicted in other crimes not so long ago.

Mears said prosecutors and police work to apply the law equally and treat all victims with respect.

"We really do try to treat everybody who is a victim of violent crime the same, regardless of their criminal history," Mears said.

"That's the only way we can end this cycle of violence."

Holt said the shootings will end when people who know something decide to come forward.

"Within the community there's fear that people will come back against you if they know you are a witness," Holt said. "At some point people have to take a stand."

Thursday's shootings occurred one day after faith leaders and police officials urged residents to come forward when they know about crimes. Representatives of Peace in the Streets, Young Men Inc., Indianapolis Ten Point Coalition and IMPD gathered at Barnes United Methodist Church in an often-repeated call for peace. A day earlier, IMPD announced the arrest of a 15-year-old boy in connection with a Sunday shooting on the north side that left three men dead. Police said the shooting involved illegal drugs.